Verizon Wireless To Launch 4G Wireless By The End Of 2010
by The Robot Droid on Mar.08, 2010, under Site News
4G Available to 100 Million Americans in 25 to 30 U.S. Markets by End of 2010. Verizon Wireless announced March 8,2010 that its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network field trials in the United States have demonstrated wireless data speeds that are significantly faster than today’s 3G network speeds. Trials in Boston and Seattle indicate the network is capable of peak download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps. The speeds are significantly faster than Verizon Wireless and other wireless providers’ current or promised 3G network speeds.
Verizon Wireless has been testing its forthcoming 4G LTE network in both Boston and Seattle since August, 2009. Successful data calls involved streaming video, file uploads and downloads, and Web browsing, as well as calls with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to enable voice transmissions over the LTE network. Verizon Wireless engineers report LTE average data rates of 5-12 Mbps on the downlink and 2-5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world environments and will offer Verizon Wireless customers mobile browsing speeds comparable to customers’ current, typical online Internet experience.
“Our LTE rollout plan positions Verizon Wireless to be a global leader in 4G LTE deployment. We are on track to deliver an outstanding wireless data experience to customers in 25 to 30 markets covering roughly 100 million people by year’s end,” said Tony Melone, senior vice president and chief technical officer at Verizon Wireless. “As device makers, manufacturers and others around the world begin to introduce newer and faster products to take advantage of these incredible new speeds, Verizon Wireless will be positioned to offer our customers new and exciting products on the nation’s first 4G LTE network.”
By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment in the United States, Verizon Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with excellent coverage and in-building penetration. Verizon Wireless is currently installing LTE equipment at existing cell sites and switching centers around the United States as part of its extensive, ongoing investment in its voice and data network infrastructure.
A Review of the Golf Score Card Android Phone Application
by The Robot Droid on Mar.07, 2010, under Droid Applications
For golf players there is nothing more tedious than having to write down their score on a sheet of paper or standard score card. They have to make certain they don't lose their writing tool or score card as they travel the length of the course and they have to be make certain their numbers are legible. There are many apps available for download that take care of this from an electronic angle but few are a solid and reliable as the Golf Score Card Android app.
It's a common occurrence. You are walking the lengths of the course of choice for the day and your pen gets lost, your score card is damaged, or something similar happens that causes a minor annoyance. To repair this situation may require a decision on both parties to simply write down on a new score card what they believe their scores to be. With the Golf Score Card Android app this is no longer a concern. As long as the android powered mobile device using the app is functional the score will never be lost.
Further, unlike a traditional score card there are many upcoming bells and whistles for this app coming down the pipeline in the future. Such functionality as sharing score cards with friends over the net and the ability to be used for varying golf games such as disc golf make it stand out. Currently images of the score card can be saved for later review and are less likely to be lost than a typical score card that can be easily damaged or otherwise impaired.
This simple and effective app is easy to utilize and utilitarian in performance. while there are many bells and whistles considered for adding onto it in the future the app excels at performing the primary function it was designed for. It keeps score well and with a save function it manages to remain useful between series of games played to show improvements and declines in skill.
The Golf Score Card Android app is perfect for any golfer interested in improving their game by focusing on their weak points. It is useful for a variety of separate game types such as minigolf, nine hole golf, discus golf, as well as tournament and standard eighteen hole play. The program works well and does not malfunction as long as the machine it is installed on has been properly maintained and has an appropriate up to date operating system.
One of the primary reasons people adore this app is that it is a small one hundred fifty-three kilobyte download. An app that performs all the essential functions of a score card without the downside of using a physical one is something that continually draws many people to the Golf Score Card Android app. While it is utilitarian in its purpose without a large amount of sidereal benefits it is very good at doing its primary function. The best reason to use this app is for the express pupose of its existence. It is a solidly programmed and fully functioning electronic gold score card app.
Overall it is a solid four out of five. Once the new functionality that is slated to be added into it is released then it may very well achieve the true perfection that only exists at the five star level.
Stock Car Spin App Keeps NASCAR Fans Up To Date Fast And Easy
by The Robot Droid on Mar.05, 2010, under Droid Applications
For those individuals that adore the sport of Nascar there is nothing better than being at the races themselves. However, this is not always an option and the next best thing is to watch the races on television. When even this option is not available these diehard fans still desire to know who won what race and at times like that they must turn to news outlets and similar institutions. The people at Stock Car Spin, world renowned for their up to the minute and detailed racing blog and news site, have crafted the perfect method for true Nascar fans to keep in touch with the latest news and race results. This answer to Nascar fan prayers is the Stock Car Spin app Android app.
This app guarantees quick results and continual data feeds designed to bring every facet of Nascar to the viewing public. Continual updates occur whenever anyone accesses the app and anyone with the program will know the winner of a race and any important information the moment it happens. The information is up to the minute and uncensored in a manner that true fans demand. Requirements to run the Stock Car Spin app Android app are that the user must have an android powered phone such as the Motorola Droid to run it.
This app is perfect for any avid Nascar fan that doesn't have the time or the schedule to actually watch races as frequently as they would like. The information granted is complete and uncensored so the race fan never has to miss a moment of the action even if they can't see or hear it. Anyone who loves Nascar, has a Motorola Droid or similar android powered device, and is literate will love this app.
There are many races throughout the year and the only way to keep abreast of all of them is to either watch them from work, for those lucky few that can, or actually be at the races. The news feeds from various sources vary in content and usefulness but the people at Stock Car Spin are well known for unbiased content and straight talk about racing performances.
The reason to use the Stock Car Spin app Android app as opposed to "googling" the net for information or waiting for the sports news on television is simple. The information is immediate, unbiased, and uncensored. The modern fan base demands detail and information that our forefathers of racing enthusiasm did not know or care for. The knowledge of what racing team is being sponsored by which sponsor is just as important to some people as the races themselves. The market for racing information has gone far beyond who won and who lost. Fans want to know who crashed, how many tire changes, how fast did they fuel up and change out tires, etc.
For the true Nascar fan that must know everything about the race and must know it now the Stock Car Spin app Android app is the best answer to this question going.
Easy To Use Golf Tracks Lite and Pro Android App Helps Game
by The Robot Droid on Mar.05, 2010, under Droid Applications
The golf tracks applications are excellent for any golfer that wants to easily understand their handicap and to maintain a greater knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses while playing the game of golf. There are two distinct version the Golf Tracks lite and pro versions. There are only a few differences between the Golf Tracks Lite and Pro Android app versions.
The Golf Tracks Lite version is basically a demo of the full system. It comes with a capacity to track the score of the device owner, a handicap calculator, and a quick links to Google maps to view local courses with a capability to locate them via GPS. The lite version is a free download that is roughly three hundred ten kilobytes in size. It is usable by any android powered phone but requires the system to be up to date.
The Golf Tracks Pro version takes all the best parts of the lite variant and removes some of the annoyance such as the nag screen that occasionally pops up to ask if you'd like to switch to the pro version to locate things faster, and to improve capacity all around. The pro version costs four dollars ninety-five cents American and has a download size of six hundred seventeen kilobytes.
The Golf Tracks Lite and Pro Android app, whichever is chosen, are considered the preeminent Android apps for keeping gold scores as well as maintaining game scores. The app helps to improve the game of any owner by showing weaknesses and calculating specific information on the fly. Between their capacity to calculate information and locate worthy courses that may either challenge the golfer or help them improve on a slightly easier course these variants of the same app are the way to go to help any golfer reach their true potential.
If the mobile device owner upgrades to the pro version they are capable of saving their last twenty games for later viewing. This can allow them a form of trend analysis so that they can consider the best way to improve their game. If they require too many strokes they may need to go to a driving range to improve their distance precision. If they know that they can get the ball to the hole quickly but lack the capacity to get it into that hole readily they will know that the extra strokes come from close precision.
Either way the Golf Tracks Lite and Pro Android app is the perfect way to catalog the progress of a golfer and help them understand the way they have been playing. If nothing else the fact that they can use the GPS function to locate the nearest green or a golf course they might not have been aware of will be a reason to utilize this app. The constant world traveler that enjoys golfing in new places will find that using this app to locate courses while traveling abroad will wonder how they ever did without it before now.
Due to its capacities, ease of use, and solidly programmed software architecture I rate this app five out of five. There are few if any apps currently on the market that approach this level of utility this app possess, fewer still that can be said to equal it, and none that surpass it.
The Tiger Woods Camera App For Android Phones Is A Woot
by The Robot Droid on Mar.04, 2010, under Droid Applications
The Tiger Woods Photo Application is so much fun. It took about 30 seconds to creat this pic. Its Tiger watching TV and shaving in the morning. I think we would all be laughing if we saw news about closing Madonna's legs first thing in the morning. Wonder what he's thinking with that razor in his hand?
The people that brought us Obama Cam and the Twilight New Moon sound board have finally unleashed their much anticipated Tiger Woods Cam. The results so far are mixed, but considering that it is only the first iteration released by Diligent Labs it is quite incredible and more than a little hilarious.
The Tiger Woods Camera Android app works in similar regard to the original Obama Cam. There are a wide variety of poses and sometimes awkward positions that Tiger will find himself in during the utilization of this fun program.
The app works via a camera image overlay process. This process allows Tiger to be seen on the viewing portion of the android phone camera in any manner of situations. The hilarity ensues whenever an interesting shot presents itself.
Tiger can be seen bending over, kissing the air, swinging a golf club, as well as merely smiling and jocking for the camera. The number of uses for this are limitless but a few truly interesting things that have cropped up are people that have had him kissing just about anyone or anything they can imagine from a gold fish to edited images of Michelle Obama; talk about scandal in the White House!
While there are a few bugs and other kinks that still need to be worked out of the system it is a solid start on an entertaining way to poke fun at the world around you. Each of the bugs or glitches found is being cataloged by the makers of the Tiger Woods Camera Android App for their next iteration of it. Some known issues are the inability to work with android flash and a few photo gallery related issues. In future iterations this will be fixed and more images of the formerly squeaky clean image bearing Tiger will be available.
The app is a free download from Diligent labs that is a 576.1 KB and on most sites that have reviewed it the mixed reviews have roughly ended up giving it a four out of five stars despite the minor issues it can have at this first release stage in its development. The Tiger Woods Camera Android app has reignited the celebrity camera app craze once again and already people are calling for even more celebrities like Shaq, Bill clinton, and Jennifer Aniston.
There are a wide variety of websites where the images taken in this manner can be shared. The most common are Twitter and Picasa followed by various e-mail programs that many individuals use. With such rapid sharing there are already people beginning to develop fansites for this sort of thing in the hopes that the trend will catch on.
Over all despite the few small glitches that can crop up with the program in this early iteration it is a well designed and humorously entertaining android app. The Tiger Woods Camera Android app has definitely earned a well deserved four out of five stars. Once the minor issues are fixed this will be a five star app in its entirety.
Google Launches Gesture Search For Droid and Android 2.0 Phones
by The Robot Droid on Mar.04, 2010, under Droid Applications
Gesture Search from Google Labs lets you search your Android-powered device by drawing alphabet gestures on the touch screen. It allows you to quickly find a contact, a bookmark, an application, or a music track from hundreds or thousands of items, all in one place. It is fast and fun to use.
We played around with this a bit. T came up with everything starting with T. All my T contacts, Twitter ,Twoid, Google Talk, Tiger Woods Camera, etc.
Once you have what you want, Be it a App or contact users can call it use it with ease. For the short period of time I used this I was impressed. It found everything I searched for.
Droid Users can search for and download the Gesture Search App in the Android Market, Or Use the Bar Code Scanner App.
1. Open 'Barcode Scanner'
(available from Android Market).
2. Point your phone camera at the screen,
and scan the QR code above.
3. Follow the onscreen installation directions.
If a target item is not shown just keep writing and search resuly are always updating, refined as you ad each letter. You can wipe off one letter or cleaned the entire screen and start over.
Draw directly on top of search results to ad letters and refine search further.
Google seems to think this app will relieve stress. I created home screen short cut during setup. This enables the user to search there phone even faster.
The Gesture Search App is sure to be a hit.
Gesture Search currently supports English and requires Android 2.0 or above.
Android 2.1 OTA Update For Motorola Droid Is Evolution Working
by The Robot Droid on Feb.24, 2010, under Site News
There has been a great deal of hype surrounding the upcoming Android 2.1 OTA update for the Droid. The SDK for 2.1 was released on January 11, 2010. The hype and annoyance people are leveling at Motorola for continually pushing back the release date of their next update, the much vaunted Android 2.1, that has been anticipated and lusted after for nearly a month. All this has left lots of time for rumors to circulate.
One particular rumor that seems to be persistent is that the Eris will receive it before the Droid. This does make a certain kind of sense due to the fact that the Eris has labored under the 1.5 framework for months now and badly needs and update of this type to remain current. Despite their complaints, however, the buzz still proves that people are very interested in the promised updates as well as a few desired bug fixes that might be added to the over the air update.
The Android 2.1 OTA update for the Droid is cited to have several upgrades for the Droid. Some of the most sought after updates are true voice recognition, a fully integrated virtual keyboard that will be made larger to accommodated quick typists, a 3D gallery that utilizes finger swipes. The addition of more home screens is sure improve the UI as well.
The voice recognition system is tied into the virtual keyboard and involves a single finger swipe across the virtual keyboard before dictating the information you wish to send. The update will apparently allow the Droid to truly understand English so that typing will not be required.
The Upgraded virtual keyboard will feature auto-correct and auto-complete features that allow mobile device owner's to send more professional seeming text messages. The individual keys will be larger and possibly more responsive as well.
The 3D gallery is something many individuals have wanted for a while as it will allow for a much greater variety of usage in their multimedia functions. The Droid will be able to take all of the owner's photos and videos as well as album art and other images from their Picasa Web albums account online. They will then be displayed via three-dimensional stacks that will slightly move in a manner the phone is tilted. To scroll through the chosen media all that is required will be a single finger flick or slide. This will allow the app user to choose a thumbnail version of what they want from their media. Once the object of their interest is located a simple finger tap will select and expand it for playback or viewing. To share media such as pictures or the app user will need to perform a long-press on the object to transfer. This can be done for single images or bulks transfers when using Facebook, MMS, and E-mail.
The Android 2.1 OTA Update for Droid has been long awaited and with the many updates the new version will bring many wonder at the direction Motorola is taking. Some cite that they would prefer more bug fixes over other types of updates, for instance. However, they still await the next update with baited breath because it has been promised and they desire to see how things will go.
The addition of home screen will surly improve the user interface experience. As users find more ways to incorporate the Droid Phone into all aspects of life real estate on home screens is prime. We have seen 6 home screens on flashed updates, but we hope for more in the 2.1 OTA Update. Not holding our breath though.
While the date for the OTA update has been pushed back twice now, first from January 22, 2010 to February 12, 2010 and from then it was determined that it would be released "soon", the functionality the update represents continues to draw interest. There are several interesting facets to the update and as with all OTA updates any Motorola Droid owner will be able to simply shut down their phone and turn it back on to receive a prompt for downloading the update. The only charge discussed is the typical connection fee for downloading anything.
The three primary reasons individuals are interested in the new Android 2.1 OTA update for Motorola Droid phone users are not the only upgrades that will be occurring once the new additions go live. There are several more customer's might find interesting and useful. Notable additions are pinch to zoom, map updates, improvements to battery life, and so much more.
The multi-touch features that many Verizon Droid owners have been desiring are finally coming to their preferred mobile device. Pinch to zoom will make its way to the Motorola Droid along with its other touch enhanced features and higher sensitivity to such. Pinch to zoom is most often cited as being used with Google maps and similar applications but it can be used with other downloaded app software as well. Speaking of Google maps will go live with the new Android 2.1 OTA update for Motorola Droid phone usage. While some individuals do not see what the fuss is about others enjoy the face that they will have a more accurate map system that has greater sensitivity and capacity to actually locate what they desire to find.
There are supposed to be other updates designated by Motorola for the Droid. One of the most hoped for of these is an extension to the battery life by means of making the operating system more energy efficient. How much of an improvement isn't really specified and Motorola has recently removed its update list citing that it was placed online too soon and was never meant to be released at the time it was.
Some individuals are fascinated and thankful that the news and weather widgets that appeared on the Nexus One phone will actually make their way to the Droid. These widgets are quite advanced and accurate for what they do so at least people will always have access to the local environmental conditions and news casting if they so choose.
This is either a relief or an annoyance to people that are eagerly awaiting this update due to the fact that two omissions on the update list were the 3D rotating grid app screens and live wallpapers. Understandably this would only be a primarily cosmetic omission but disallowing something like this has started many rumors about the legalities and Capacity of the Droid to use the full android 2.1 OS.
Rumors generated about cell phone updates always run rampant online. Some websites are notorious for starting them and in the words of some individuals they are likened to "twelve year old schoolgirls giggling in the bathroom". However, the strange truth is that many of the rumors started are based in reality even if specifics might be missing. One of the most noted and feared rumors is that certain functionality types, such as live wallpapers, will only be available to Google Phones. The reason for this rumor is that mechanically speaking the hardware of the Motorola Droid is more than capable of handling live wallpaper updates and rotating 3D grid icons.
The other version of that exclusion rumor is simply that the update list really was sent out too early and the omission of these two capacities was in fact just that, an omission. The rumor mongers that speak of this cite the fact once again that the Droid is entirely capable of handling this type of software programming. In the end only time and the actual update will quell these rumors.
Over the last few weeks we have heard of some users having the Android 2.1 Update drop to there phones. In fact we received the Google Maps update. Still waiting for the OS though. We suspect that some of the reports are developers flashing the update in order to test there apps. It has also been in a couple videos floating around the web were users have flashed 2.1. We don't recommend flashing 2.1, but it is available. The reason we don't recommend forcing the update is that it most probably not complete. Unless you are a developer there is no reason to.
Its understandable that users are growing impatient waiting. Think of it like this: The Droid and Android are evolving and that takes time. We are fortunate to have devices that will be updated as long as we own them. That is very cool. It may take awhile, but as a Droid Phone owner you will always get the newest software on your mobile Phone. What more can we need? Really! lets us know what you think Droid need next.
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Motorola DROID Verizon Wireless no contract |  |
15 Bids | US $275.00 | 18m |
ICooking With Food Asst Recipe Widget For Droid Phones
by The Robot Droid on Feb.23, 2010, under Droid Applications
Have you heard of IFood Assistant or are new to the application? You will be happy to know that this application is now available on the Google Android phone.
The application is brought to you by Kraft Inc and offers many of the recipes which can be found on the Kraft Foods website.
In truth this app is a widget and activated by long pressing the home screen.
If you are into gastronomy the IFood assistant brings a lot to the table, no pun intended. The application is formatted similarly to most of the other phone applications; it is pleasing on the eyes and easy to navigate for users. Like I said before the application offers a wide variety of recipes from the KraftFoods website. Once the user clicks on the application in the apps window the user is presented with five options to choose from:
Recipe of the Day - This is where everyday a recipe is showcased. This is good because there are so many recipes on the KraftFoods website, it can be easy to overlook a good one.
Browse Recipes - This option allows the user to search the recipes.
Dinner Tonight - This options allows the user to pick a recipe for preparation.
Simple Shortcuts - This option shares tips that the user can use when preparing the meal.
Snacks & Treats - This is pretty self-explanatory. This option allows the user to browse through snacks and dessert recipes.
The last option, Cooking Videos, is the most helpful one because the user can watch videos of the meals being prepared by professional chefs. This can help if the user wants to actually make the recipe while referring to the video for assistance.
Another feature that the user can choose is to look at the recipe ingredients. If the user does not have all of the recipe ingredients the user can find a store near them using only the application to buy the ingredients. In the application there is a store locater and information on what stores have what is needed and where it is located within the store.
The application also has nutritional information on all of the recipes such as calories, fat, sugar, serving size, etc. In addition the user can see how long it takes to make each recipe.
The application basically functions like an electronic recipe book in that it allows the user to search for recipes using the KraftFoods recipe database. The user can edit their list of recipes and add new ones. The application also allows ways for users to find the ingredients that they need to make the recipe. All recipes on the IFood application have appealing pictures of the finished product. There are also reviews of the recipes as well so the user can know how others liked the recipes.
Get Great Deals With Android Bar Code Scanner App.
by The Robot Droid on Feb.22, 2010, under Droid Applications
The Android Bar Code Scanner App is an application programming interface (api) that allows cell phone owners with the Android mobile operating system to scan an item's bar code to get more information on the item. Since bar codes are used in stores everywhere to quickly inventory and process the purchase of the item, this simplifies the search for information on it.
How does the Android Bar Code Scanner App work?
The Android Bar Code Scanner App is simple to install. Most of the work is done by the already installed Android Bar Code Scanner Application programming interface. All the cell phone owner has to do is go to Android.com, Google's dedicated website for the Android mobile operating system and Google's new Nexus One smart phone. Just go into the Android market, select a bar code scanner application and download it. Once it is installed, the cell phone's camera lens becomes the scanner. Just scan the bar code of the item and the Google Product Search for Android will gather the requested information in a few seconds. It will work with 1 dimension and 2 dimension bar codes.
How will the Android Bar Code Scanner App help users?
The Android Bar Code Scanner App will be a great personal assistant for its users. The major limit on its uses and benefits will be the imagination of the user. Over time, as the user becomes more familiar with the app, more and more uses will be discovered. Some of the users with computer programming skills will develop new programs for the Android Bar Code Scanner App that will expand the utility of the application.
The most popular use of the Android Bar Code Scanner App is comparison shopping. With the bar code scanner's ability to access the Google Product Search function, product information is readily accessible. Google Product Search will not only retrieve information on the product, it can even find the same product in nearby stores without leaving the store where the scan was done. It can also search for the product at online venders such as Amazon.com, Half.com and Ebay. For books, it can search local libraries for the book's availability as well. Not only can the Google Product Search provide the specifications and uses for the product, it will also suggest similar products that compete with the original product. Their locations and prices will be provided on a comparison basis.
If the cell phone owner finds an item of interest online, either at a home, work or public computer, the item can still be scanned and the same information retrieved from the bar code on the item's image on the monitor.
Verizon Wireless And Skype Join Forces For New Service
by The Robot Droid on Feb.21, 2010, under Site News
At the 2010 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Spain, Verizon Wireless and Skype announced a strategic relationship that will bring Skype to Verizon Wireless smartphones in March 2010. The new Skype mobile™ product enhances Verizon Wireless’ smartphones for users who have data plans by offering a new way to call around the globe, while also giving hundreds of millions of Skype users around the world the opportunity to communicate with friends, family and business colleagues in the United States using Verizon Wireless.
The two companies have created an exclusive, easy-to-use Skype mobile offering for 3G smartphones. Verizon Wireless 3G smartphone users with data plans can use Skype mobile to:
- make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;
- call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
- send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
- remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.
Initially, Skype mobile will be available on millions of best-selling Verizon Wireless 3G smartphones with data plans, including the BlackBerry® Storm™ 9530, Storm2™ 9550, Curve™ 8330, Curve™ 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour™ 9630 smartphones, as well as DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS™ by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR™.
John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless, said, “Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless changes the game. For Verizon Wireless’ more than 90 million customers, Skype mobile adds great value because we’re effectively giving customers with smartphones and data plans the option to extend their unlimited calling community to hundreds of millions of Skype users around the globe. And you’re not limited to using a single type of phone; we’ll have nine smartphones ready right at launch in March.”
Josh Silverman, chief executive officer of Skype, noted, “People want to take their Skype conversations with them wherever they go, whether it’s on a PC, TV or increasingly mobile phones. Verizon Wireless will give U.S. consumers the best Skype experience on mobile phones and will truly change the way people call their friends and family internationally.”
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Android Updates
- Android NDK r3 March 8, 2010 David Turner
- Speech Input API for Android March 5, 2010 Alex Gruenstein
- Android at the Game Developer's Conference March 3, 2010 Chris Pruett
- Service API changes starting with Android 2.0 February 11, 2010 Dianne Hackborn
- Live wallpapers February 5, 2010 Romain Guy
- Android at Mobile World Congress January 26, 2010 Eric Chu, Android Mobile Platform
